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A new method for revealing spatial relationships between shrubs and soil resources in arid regions

Jian Hou,Jianying Yang,Jiajuan Tan

Published 2019 in Catena

ABSTRACT

Abstract Solving scientific and applied problems in restoration ecology requires the use of methodologies that can unravel the relationship between different plant species and the distribution of relevant soil resources. This study proposes a new method to accurately quantify the relationship between plants and soil resource patterns by integrating geostatistics, point pattern analysis, and spatial comparison (IGPS). IGPS was used to analyze the relationship between different shrub species and soil resources in an arid area near Wuhai City in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region of China. The relationships between several dominant species and soil resources have been evaluated, thus providing a reference point for the selection of suitable species for ecological restoration in this particular region. The results indicate that IGPS can identify the main plant species that affect the distribution of soil resources, determine which patterns in the distribution of soil resources are caused by plants, determine the number of plants that directly affect soil patches, and quantify the spatial relationship between plants and soil resources. This method is useful for both theoretical research and practical applications and is suitable for use in ecosystems all over the world.

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